Press.



G.. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPLICAUON mm AuG.18,19|1.

l `i."4&,2 1% rammed Mar. 7, 19m.

13 SHEETS-SHEE1L 661111 e. y'. PII/"i1, time l; y i1/1% Ma/m71 .t gan G" E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

u AFPLCAHON FILED UG- \8. 1911. l N l L WQQQ. Patented Mar. 1, Ems.

13 SHEETS-SHED 'IMF G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPUCATLON FILED AUG. is, 1ers.

l l 1 2. fzxtvnmi His T, MNB.

Fa/1y. 5.

. WHHNEY.

PRESS.

APPLrcATxoN FILED Aue. 18. i911.

kiwi-,212.

G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPLICATION man AUG. la. 19m

G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPucArsoN HLED AUG. 1u, 19u.

Patented Mii-r. 7, 19H3.

S H E ET Sv SHEET 6- A qu My if Y Alwveawlfmv' eozlge L". Vie Il z GL E. WHINEY.

PEESS.

AWM/gnou mw AUG. is, 19H.

by@ @y G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS= APPUCATIOM mw Aus.|s,19xi.

1 174,21. 2. Patented Mm'. Tf, 1916,

G. E. WHITNEYt mess.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-13.1911. 'u i 1,174,212. PatPntedMar. 1,1911.

I3 SH[ETS-SHEEI 9.

05M i lb DM n i i Il n Pl/zessea.'

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G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

yAwummou min Aue. la. 191|.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916 WMMM Gleazge E. W 111711101] I3 SHEETS Y-SHE i 1.A

PRESS.

APPLICATION mio Aus. la. 911.

9 JAY-ift?.

G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPLlcmoN mio A111118. 1911.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

fv'ilu ea@ as wif my M G. E. WHITNEY.

PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, |9111.

Palfvntcd Mair. 7, 1916.

W171i eases To all whom t may concern:

GEoEGE ELI WHITNEY, or PAVEMENT company, NECTICUT.

YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL OF/HARTFORD', CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application inea August 1s, 1911. serial No. 644,735.

Be it known that I, GEORGE ELI` VH'ITNEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of Yonkers, in the county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Presses, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and mode of operation of presses employed in the manufacture of blocks, bricks, tiles and the like7 made from asphaltic or other plasticmixtures or materials. It is a commercial necessity that these blocks, tiles and the like be compressed not only under high pressure but with great rapidity.

Heretofore presses adaptedto compress plastic mixti res or material into blocks, bricks and the like have usually been unsatisfactory in one, ther other7 or both of these essentials. This arises from two causes. Every automatic block press comprises two main classes of instrumentalities, viz: the compressing instrumentalities and the cooperating material handling instrumentalities for handling the material both before and after compression. 1f any part of either of these instrumcntalities is slow, liable to breakdowns, or otherwise objectionable, it reduces the eiiiciency of the entire press to the level of the least satisfactory feature.

My invention aims. among other things7 to provide a press, preferably hydraulic, which shall be free from speed restrictive features both in its compressing instrumentalities and in its material handling instrumentalities.

It also aims to reduce to a minimum lall uncontrolled momentum which might result in breakage in either of the above named instrumentalities.

Another object of my invention is to produce more efficient compression and distribution of the material under compression so that a superior product may be attained.

My invention comprises also certain novel features of construction and operation and certain combinations of parts and operations which will be hereinafter more fully dcscribed in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodi- `Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate details of the rotary head moving mechanism. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan on the lines 8 8 of Fig. 1 showing in plan those portions of the press lying below that line. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the center of the main compression ram and some alined parts upon the line 9--9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line 10--10 of Fig. 5 showing details of the low pressure ram. revolving head, block ejecting and block removing means. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 shows on a. larger scale the details of the ejecting and block removing mechanism as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of the same on the line 13--13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 2 showing the embodiment of auxiliary plunger pull down device herein described. Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line 16-16 of Fig'. 2 showing one type of mechanism for applying compression to the material while in filling position and one type of device for regulating the thickness of the finished block. Figs. 17 and 1.8 illustrate the mold plungers and attachments. Figs. 194.33 inclusive illustrate the relative position of the mold, mold cover and mold plunger during various operations which will be hereinafter described. Figs. 2427 inclusive illustrate one form of safety device which may bel used to prevent damage to presses of the character described. Fig. 28 illustrates the steam cylinder and its connections. Fig. 29 illustrates a vertical transverse section of the machine on the line 17-17 of Fig.

lVhile my invention is of general application. it is particularly adapted for use in compressing what are commonly known as asphalt paving blocks, composed mainly of crushed rock and a cementitious asphaltic binder, and therefore I have elected ,to disclose my invention in connection with such use.

The embodiment of my invention herein described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings is provided with a base 1 (Fig. 1) towhich is attached a ram cylinder 2 havinga chamber containing the vertically'r'eciprocable ram 3 (Figs. 4 and 9) which is effective to compress material in-molds to be described. The chamber of the ram cylinder and its connections preferably contain a body of liquid of normally-substantially tixed quantity and constant body. 'Pressure is preferably imparted to the liquid in this chamber by displacing means herein shown as'the displacing plunger 4 (Fig. 9) which is thrust intp the liquid by `any suitable'actuator, a preferred constructin'i of which will.

be hereinafter described. pre er ,however that this displacing means shalloperate through a, stroke normally determined by the resistance of the material under compression. I'f such is the'case thedisplacing means is compensative being longer. or

the displacing means and the shorter according to the point in its stroke at which a predetermined resistance is encountered by the means responsive to its movement. lVhere the pressure system coperates with a plurality of molds, I'may, if desired, provide -a separate ram 5 (Fig. l1) which I prefer to supply with pressure from the displacing 4means which supplies pressure to the ram 3. To this end, I may connect 4the cylinderti of the 4ram 5 with the main cylinder 2 by a passage 7 so that liquid under pressure may circulate through th whole space beneath the two rams making in effect one liquid'containing chamber. I prefer to make the cylinder 2 and the cylinder 6 in one single casting and to so arrange the relative positions and dimensions of my displacing plunger, rams and chamber as to substantially ellminate all speed restrictive hydraulic resistance in 'the operation of the press. I prefer-that the ram 5 should be of smal-ler pressure receiving area than the ram 3 so that it may impart less pressure than j is imparted by the latter and also of less weightpersquare inch of pressurereceiving area than the ram 3 so that when pressure is applied it may normally begin 'to move before the ram 3 and when the displacing plunger is retracted it may normally begin to descend after the ram 3.

From the foregoing description it may readily be 'understood that movement of the plunger 4 on its displacing stroke will displace liquid in ltheichamber beneath the rams and impart multiplied pressure to both rams, the force imparted to each depending pressure receiving area., the area of .pressure 1m- 'In starting and stopon its parted to the latter.

, shownas including a ring or ping the press, or at any othertinie, lessresistance may be offered to either ram than is intended. If this were .the case4 the ram meeting the' least resistance would be moved farther than is intended by the displaced liquid, with the result that the other rain would not impart adequate pressure to the material1 under compression. To guard against this I preferablyl provide each ram with arbitrary stroke limiting means herein projection 1 (Fig. 4) on the ram' 3 and a ring or projection 8 (Fig. 10) on the ram 5 and above these rings sectional rings 9 and 10 firmly fixed to the ram cylinders. .Below the rings I p refer to provide projections or shelves on which the rings sired. Between the shelf of each and the ring attached to the cylinder I provide sufficient s ace, more than the height or thickness o the I'ing of each ram respectively to permit the maximum desired stroke of the respective rams. When one ram has effected its maximum desired range of compressive movement the Pring of the ram abuts on the ring of the cylinder, upward movement and rendering the stroke .of thedisplacing :means effective to force liquid under the other ram and insure its reproper pressure. In ordinary operation however I prefer that each ram should be stopped on its compressing stroke by the' resistance of the material under'compression and not by the stroke limiting means.

Another function of the stroke limiting device disclosed may be. if the rams are of different weights per square inch of area as illustrated. to permit return of the ram having` the lesser weight per square inch of pressure receiving area by permittingr the ring of the ram with greater weight per square inch of such area to first bottom on 7 and 8 may rest when dethus preventing further.

mentioned. The ram 3 (Fig. 4) is preferahlv made with a detachable portion 11, attached to the main portion 3 by lbolts 1Q or other suitable attachment means. This permits the ring9 which is preferably divided in three or more portions to be inserted after the main portion of the ram has been put in place. The detachable portion 11 is then bolted in place. I prefer to provide a. passage herein shown as a somewhat loose joint between the outside-of thea/'ing or projection and the wall 0f the cylinder so thatliquid may pass from below lthe ring to above the ring and vice. versa.' If desired, I may mak-e this passage somewhat restricted so that the` passage of the partially entrapped liquid may somewhat retard the rapid stroke of the ram when the mold is empty or for other reasons no substantial resistance is offered to its compression stroke. This'retardatioii, among other things,.serves to restrain injurious impactof the ring 7 upon the ring 9. .The ram is preferably provided ivith a ring and projection 8 for a similar purpose as i's sh'own in Fig. 10.

In the embodiment of my invention herein described, .to save space, I preferably provide an opening or hole 13 in the ram 3 through which the displacing plunger fl may pass. This hole is preferably of such proportions as to permit the rise and fall of the ram without permitting it to turn any substantial amount in its cylinder. In order that the liquid displaced by the displacing plunger may readily find its Way under the ram, I preferably provide conduit.

means 14 (Fig. 4) establishing communication between the hole 13 and the liquid beneath the ram. To permit ready removal of the displacing plunger (Fig. 4) I preferably supply an openino` 15 Fi 9 covered by a plate. lopposite tIie opening 13 for the displacing plunger 4; Stuihng boxes, packing and glands are preferably provided for the displacingplunger and each of the rams. It will be noted that the embodiment of my pressure system herein disclosed is normally valveless and that every movement of the displacing means produces synchronous movement With it of one or the other or both of the rams which constitute one form of responsive means. In any case I prefer that the responsive means should be normally always and only responsive to movement of the displacing means.y It Will also be noted that in the illustrative embodiment herein described the liquid containing cham ber or receptacle is completely filled with a normally substantially fixed quantity and substantially constant body of present transmission liquid.

As before stated, I prefer that the press be of great power combined With high speed, and in order to combine these qualities in a hydraulic press I prefer to dispense with all valves in the normal operation of the press by using the before described body of liquid instead of a changing body provided with valves as in presses of the accumulator. and relief discharge valve types.

A replenishing pump 18 (Fig. 9) serves, through suitable connections, preferably including a pipe and a check valve or check valves, to `compensate for any leakage of liquid from the liquid containing chamber during the operation of the press. The replenishing pump is ordinarily not a working part of the press itself but is purely auxiliary, being preferably manually operable by the operator, at times if desired during the operation of the press. but preferably not during the periods of high pressure in the liquid containing cylinder. The amount of use of this replenishing pump depends upon the condition of the packing.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I actuate the displacing plunger 4 by Huid pressure acting on a piston 19 (Fig. 9) in the cylinder 20 Which fluid pressure coperating with the piston 19 and the cylinder 2() may constitute one form of pressure determining yielding means. I prefer to use steam or other elastic fluid pressure which is admitted to the ends of the cylinder alternately preferably by means of a slide valve 21 in a suitable steam chest. In the particular type of valve mechanism shown, the slide valve 21 is controlled by mechanism which will be hereinafter described. I prefer that a port leading from the valve chest 21a to the interior of the cylinder at the end nearest the displacing plunger should be provided with a check valve 22. A by-pass 22 permits the passage of but a. small amount of steam when stean'i is admitted to the'end of the cylinder which it controls. The action of this check valve is to permit differentiation in the capacity of the port so that it may be of greater area when steam is passing through it in one direction than when steam is passing through it in the opposite direction.

I prefer to provide elastic cushioning means at one or both ends of the steam cylinder to restrain impact. In the embodiment herein disclosed the ports 23 and 24 (Figs. 9 and 28) open into the steam cylinder at points somewhat removed from the ends of the cylinder. The passage of the piston past these ports entraps, either 'wholly or partially, as desired. a. quantity of elastic fluid in the end of the cylinder, thus forming an elastic cushion which aids in bringing the piston to rest Without impact or shock. In order that steam may get back of the piston to start it on its stroke in the opposite direction. I have herein shown a bypass 25 leading into the cylinder at a point nearer the end than where the main port 23 enters. I prefer to control this by pass by a check valve 27. This check valve opens when steam is to be admitted to the end of the cylinder with which it cooperates, permitting the steam to push the piston 19 so as to open the larger port. On the return stroke of the piston the check valve is closed, preferably, either by a spring or fluid pressure. Thus when the piston 19 closes the port 23 elastic fluid is entrapped to form an elastic Huid cushion. A similar'device is preferably provided for the opposite end of the cylinder including the port 24. the bypass 2G and the check valve 28. Owing to the great difliculty in controlling the momentum of the displacing means on both its compressing and return strokes. I have also' provided positive impact preventing means which positively prevents impact of the pis ton 19 on either end of the cylinder 20.

Th-e embodiment of positive impact controlling means herein shown compriss (Fig. 1) a crank 29 mounted on any suitable pedes- ISD steam and momentum cannot hold straight.

sive molds which may retarding effect as the tal 30 provided with connecting rods l31 (Figs. 1 and 5) 'attached to a crosshead'32 connected to the displacing plun er 4. The crank and connecti'n rods are o such pro.- portions that the plston 1-9 (Fig. never strike either end of its cylinder. The crank can never get on center because .the

the line of the axis of the crank, the axis of the crank pin and the axis of the point of y attachment of the connecting rod to the dis- The preferred construction of pressure' instrumentalities heretoforedescribed, preferably coperates with molding instrumentalities including at least one mold together with means to open said mold for the introduction of materials to be pressed and for the expulsion of compressed material, and

also mold closing means ada ted to close.

said mold when pressure is to. e applied to the contents thereof. Aiiy suitableapparatus may perform' this operation, which apparatus I elect toterm mold opening and closing means, but I prefer that the heretofore described pressure instrumentalities shall coperate with a plurality of progresconveniently be contained in amold carrier herein shown as a the drawings.

- molds the contents yielding bulkhead rotatable moldtable.

The rotatable'mold table is a preferred instrumentality by which to produce a vprogressive mold type of press as illustrated in i A progressive mold' press connotes a press comprising a plurality of of which are subjected to di erent operations within the' same portion of a cycle of operation of the press.

'n the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings three pressure resisting or re'- ceiving bolts or columns 32, 33 and 34 (F igsiid and 8) support a preferably un- 35 (Fig. 1). This bulkhead or abutment which may form the main pressure 'receivingr portion of the press above the molds may be -held from movement by the pressure of the compressingrinstr'u mentalities by nuts' 36, 37 and 38 (Figs. 1 and 2) attached to the'columns, the latter being preferably secured firmly at their lower ends to the bed 1 or membersrigidly attached thereto. To this bulkhead .are

.9) can i gers.

preferably attached a plurality of hardened, renewable plates positioned so', that they form covers or pressure receiving plates for the molds -to which pressure is applied. Be-

low this bulkhead or abutment I prefer to provide a rotatable table 39 which may be conveniently mounted on' a cone 39a (F ig; 10) revolving on one of thecolumns, her'ein shown. as 'thecolumn ply a nut 38 by Vwhich the cone 39a may be raised and lowered to adjust the rotatable table in close relation with the bulkhead The rotatable table 39 is preferably pro` vided with a plurality of mold openings or morldsl herein shown (Fig. 5) a's ten', num bered respectively 40 to '49 inclusive, though any desired number may be provided. Each of these molds is preferably provided with a suitable mold plunger 50 (Fig. 4). which preferably travels with the rotatable table as it revolves, part of each remaining in its own mold and' being reciprocable therein. In its relation to the material to be compressed a mold. lunger may be regarded, as the'surface whic contacts with 'the material in the mold and imparts pressure to such material by actual contact therewith, while 1n its relation to parts of the press it mav be regarded as such surface together withv the parts attached thereto and reciprocating therewith. c

I refer to use mechanism for rotating the mold) table which rotatesit intermittently, making as' many stops during one revolution of the mold table as there Aare molds. The table rotating mechanism will, be hereinafter described.

In Fig.v 5 the moldy 42 is in position to' receive pressure from the low pressure ram. If desired, I may provide the high pressure ram witha pressure apportioning or distributing platev 51 (Figs. 1 and 9) adapted to distribute' the pressure from the high pressure ram to a plurality of mold plun'- In the embodiment herein shown, a portion of this plate 51a Fig.' 9) adapted to impart pressure to thel plunger of the mold 40 (Fig. 5) is higher 'than another portion 51" (Fig. 9) adapted to impart pressureto the plunger of the mold 41. Thus by a given movement of the high pressure ram a higher pressure will ordinarily be imparted tothe contents of the mold 40 than to the contents of the mold 41 if they contain substantially the same amount of material. noted that the ram cannot turn in its cylinder and so render the platen inoperative because of the device for preventing such turning heretofore described. After the next move of the mold table the contents of the mold 41 receives its hi the contents of the mol 42 receives its intennediate pressure. In the press illustrated the molds 47 and 48 are in position where their mold plungers are elevated to eject the hest pressure and It will be l 34. I prefer to sup completed blocks by ejecting means hereafter to be described, and Where the block removing means herein shown as provided with the sweep arm 52 and sweep the completed blocks from the mold table to conveye'rs numbered 52aand 53 which carry them through a cooling agent, preferably a water bath.

The 'mold 43 is in' filling positionalined under and in substantially register with an upwardly tapering' substantially vertical neck or conduit 54a (Figs. 19 and 20) through which material is fed by gravity action to i'll the molds. Thus in the embodiment |0f my invention herein described, the mold 43 is in filling position, the mold- 42 is in position to receive the low pressure, the mold 41 to receive the` intermediate pressure, and the mold 40 to receive the high or final pressure. The mold 49 con-- tains a completed block not yet elevated or ejected fromrthe mold. The molds f8 and 47 are in` ejecting and block removing positions. The molds 46, 45 and 44 contain ,material but preferably have their plun gers elevated for cleaning and lubricating purposes and are ready to be pulled down on reaching' filling position.l

- As before explained, I prefer to move the rotary table as many times to completea revolution thereof as there are molds thereln contained. In the em'bodiment disclosed in the drawings, I accomplish this by positive mechanical means including a pulley 54 35` (Fig. 8) on a'shaft ,55 on whichis keyed` the bevel gear 56 which drives a bevel gear 57 keyed on a shaft 58. To the shaft 58 is attached the crank 59 (Fig. 5). The shaft 58 in plan revolves cont'raclockwise. On the crank .pin of this crank is mounted one end of a connecting rod 60, the opposite end of which is mounted on a guiding or pawl carrying arm 61, which is pivoted on the column on which the mold table rotates. .It will readily he seen that rotation `of the shaft will impart to the arm 6l a to and fr0 or `rocking motion, the number 0f degrecs of which is determined by the distance from the axis of the shaft 58 to the axis of the crankpin, and the distancefrom the axis of the guiding or pawl carrying arm fil'at which the connecting rod is connected. To transmit motion from the guiding or pawl carrying arm' 61 to the table a ,pawl 62 is connected to the guiding` or pawl carrying arm which engages notches 63 in the periphery of the rotary mold table.

I prefer that the pawl 62 shall engage the table when the connecting rod 60 and the crank 59 are substantially alined as indicated and that the pawl should be disengaged from the table when the crank and connecting rod are substantiallylalined at the opposite end of the throw of the crank. This is one way, as may readily be understood,

by which the mold tableis started ilr Inovtion at a relatively low speed increasing until the middle of the travel 'is reached, and then is gradually slowed down so as to be at rest when finally the pawl is disengaged.-v

The before described motion of the mold table is adapted to substantially eliminate all shock or impact which commonlyattends the starting and stopping .of heavy bodies'. I prefer to cause a plurality of .reciprocations of my mold table moving apparatus for each effective reciprocation thereof. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I provide five idle strokes of this mechanism for each effective stroke thereof. That is the shaft 58 revolves three times for each time that the table is moved. This enables me to move the table in' a less portion of the cycle of operation of the pressv than would be possible if 'every' stroke of the guide arm in one direction produced corresponding movement of the table. Thus the table isI moved in one sixth of a cycle of the operation of the press, as illustrated, while if every stroke of the connecting rod in one 'direction were effective to move the table, one half of the cycle of the operation of the press would beoccupied in nfioving the table, leavingr acorrespondingly reduced portion of thelcycle for filling'themolds, pressing the material therein, ejecting therefrom, and removing thel completed blocks, from the table. Forthe purposes of `this application, I regard as one cycle the period between the completion of the final compression of one block and the completion of final compressionmif the next block.

As. herein shown I time the engagement and disengagement of the pawl 62 by means of a cam 64'on the shaft 65 (Fig. 4). I have shown the single cycle ytming'fshaft 65 making one revolution for every three revolutions of the shaft 58, on which is mounted the crank for moving the rotary mold table. The cam 64 is so shaped and disposed that it moves the lever 66 which is pivoted on any suitable-fulcrum shown at,

67. The movement of this lever, whichris provided yat its upper endwith a curved.:

portion 68, formed in the arc of a circlecen-` tered in the center of the mold table (Figs.

5, 6 and), rocks the pawl 62 on the center ,i

To. explain more fully, during two and ne one-half revolutions-'of the crankshaft 58 the pawl 62 is held out of engagement with the table because the curved portion of the' lever is held against the roller 71 (Fig. 7).

p w,will be understood that the a ove described mechanism for Yproducin this result may be greatly varied without' eparting from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed..

As before stated, I prefer to'su ply each mold with a mold p unger -whic rotates with the mold table, its upper face always remaining within and forming the bottom of themold.- z

In presses of this character heretofore constructed. it has been customary to use veryy heavy mold plungers to insure their 4which preferably depen table and is preferably secured thereto. The' lever 74 preferably passes between a'le'ver proper drop when it is desired to 'fillthe mold. This is open to serious objection when used in connection with 'a movable mold because of the great additional weight to be moved. It is desirable of course to keep the moving parts of the press as light as ossible. nother difficulty which has been experienced impresses is that there is a-tendenc for the pluri r after compression to pul awa )Vith sticky bituminous substances this freuently results in tearing awaly aportion of t e lower surface of the comp ete block.

The embodimentof my invention disclosed in the drawings-is provided with a referred construction of' plunger controlling means and means to provide dpwnward movement for assisting the descent of the Such means to plungers to fill the molds. provide downward movement does not travel with the table and hence does not act as a speed restrictive or momentum increasing element. 1

As shown in the drawin (Fi .'17) each plunger 5Q is provided wit a lin 73 which connects with a lever 74 fulcrumed at 75 on a projection from the lunger guide 76 db from the mold uide 77 and a portion of theplun r guide 6, the lever guide being prefers ly (prov vided with spring washers or other yiel ing means to cause th'e lever 7 4 to be frictionally held between the lever guide' 77 and the from t e lower surface of the block.,

' ing position. .To this 'end I may provide (Fig. 15) on the single cycle shaft 65 a cam 78, operating on a roller 79 inl on'eend of a lever 80 fulerumed at 80l which operates to store up'energy as by raising -a weight 81 connected to a lever 82 which is rovided with a projection 83. I prefer to raise this 'weight'at such a time that the projection 83 shall be above the projecting end -of the lever 74 when the table is nearingthe end'of each of its movements. I then prefer to have the. cam 78 let the weight down quickly, but constantly' control it, so that .there may be no substantial impact occasioned by its descent. During the descent the projection 83 operates on the pr ojecting end of. the lever 74 to pull down-the plunger.- In this way I am enabled to bring great'weight to bear to bring down each plunger without continuously carrying an additional great Iweight -on each plunger. In lieu of the weight, or in additionthereto as shown, I may use mechanical or elastic means, such as a compressed elastic Huid, to exert force'to bring the plunger down.

As herein shown, the lever .82. (Fig. 15) is provided with a connection 84 attached to a piston 85 in a cylinder 86 fastened tol any suitable support. The raising of thelever'82, -by the cam 78, compresses air in the top of this cylinder 86 which when refased expands and so exerts force to push'. jmvn the lever 82 and hence to push: down 1e mold plunger in the mold which is being lled. lVhil'e I- prefer to compressi the elastic fluid as illustratedany suitable compression means inay be utilized;

In the manufacture of'asphalt blocks` and blocks formed from granular oiporous m11-- terial, great diiiiculty has heretofore' 'been experienced in reducing the amount of fair in the material compressed. lWhen the a- .terial is compressed in a closed mold, ftvsile' much air escapes through the joints on narrow openings around the top andy bottom of 'the mold, a quantity of air is entr'ap ed -in the' material under compression. IV en ressure is taken oil' this expands againhnd .1n escaping, somewhat cracks the structure and surface ofthe block. To a'melioradiiliculty, A'obtain a greater density of the blocks, and for )otherr reasons, the material is preferably subjected to a plurality' of compressions. Even this howeversel.

dom eliminatesall the minute air pockets from the completed article.

I prefer greatljf to decrease the amount of air in the material prior to its compression in a closed mold and thus increase the density of the ultimate block, by the following operation: To each mold plunger, after the mold is filled and while the mold is covered only by the column o'f material in the mold filling neck, is imparted an upward movement which compresses the material in the mold yagainst the material in the neck above. The material in the neck above being porous or granular permits the air driven out by this open mold compression to escape readily, thus reducing greatly the amount of air in the mixture when ready for compression in the mold when closed. Some of the air may also escape down around the mold plunger and through the joints between the top of the mold table and the bottom of the filling neck., In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings I accomplish this expulsion of air'by a cam 87 (Fig. 16), on the single cyc shaft 65, which operates a roll 88 of a lver 89 having a fulcrum 90. To the opposite end of this lever is connected an open mold compression member 91 which, subsequent to the mold filling operation, is given upward compressive movement by the cam 87. This upward movement is imparted to the mold plunger in the mold in the position occupied by the mold 43 in Fig. 5. The downward motion of the plunger is limited by its contact with the rod 91.

It is desirable to provide means to vary the downward limit of mold filling stroke of the mold plunger and also tovary the limit of upwalrd movement of the mold plunger occasioned by the open mold compression. These in the embodiment of my invention illustrated are both pefl formed by varying the position of fulcrin'ii90. I prefer to do this by providing a threaded porti n in the base 92 of the fulcrum'90 and yhe feed screw 92". The latter may be ,conveniently rotated by sprockets 93 and 94, a chain 95 connecting them, a shaft 96 and a hand wheel 97 being providedto rotate the sprocket 94. The hand wheel 97 is preferably located in a position convenient' tothe operatori. mayreadily be performed while the press is in operation enable the operator to maintain asubstantially constant thickness of block, regardlessofthe varying density or consistency ofthe material which is common in `plas-tic and especially in asphalt blockafinaterials. When a different thickness ofblock is desired it enables the operator readily to change the amount of material which is available for compression in the mold when closed.

In ejecting the blocks from the molds subshaft 115 inside the sleeve 113.

These adjustments which' sequent to the final compression, I prefer to eject a plurality during one period of rest of the rotatable table and -ipreferably substantially simultaneously. To this end I have illustrated a preferred construction (Fig. 8) including abevel gear 98, mounted on the single cycle shaft 05, meshing with a bevel gear 99, mounted on a halftime ejecting shaft 100 (Fig. 12). To this shaft is keyed a double cam 101 operating on a roll 102 mounted on ejccting member 103 which is guided by substantially vparallel yoke members 104 and 105. I prefer to provide this ejecting member with eject` ing studs 101a and 102, of which the stud 101a operates on the plunger in mold 48, and the stud 102 operates on the plunger in mold 47. I prefer to screw these studs into the ejecting member 103 thus provid ing a convenient adjustment by which their length, and hence the height to which the plungers are elevated in ejecting, may be varied. After the blocks are entirely ejected from the mold they must be removedr As before stated I prefer to perform this by the block removing sweep arms 52 and 53 which are preferably so shaped as to engage the block on one side and one end, preferably without touching the corner between them (Fig. 5). These arms may be conveniently operated from the half-time ejecting shaft 100.

The specific construction used in the e1nbodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings is best shown in F 12. As shown the cam 106 imparts a rocking motion to a rock arm 107, pivoted at 107, to which are connected by connecting rods 108 and 109 (Fig. 13) the racks 110 and 111.

In the illustrative embodiment: the rack 110 serves to impart movement toca pinion 112 attached to a sleeve 113 to which is attached the block removing arm 53 (Fig. 5). The rack 111 (Fig. 13) imparts moveuu-ur to the pinion 114 (Fig. 12) attached to a To the `top of shaft 115 is attached another block re moving arm 52 (Fig. 5). The racks oper ating in the same direction on opposite sides of their respective pinions. cause the latter to turn inopposite directions, thus causing the arms-52YV and 53 yto remove the blocks from the` molds 47 and 18 respectively over the plates 116 and 117 respectively, onto the carrier belts 52 and 33tl which convey the blocks through a. water bath to become cooled and sufficiently solid to permit their being handled. To return the arms 52 and 53 I preferv to use yielding means such as a steam cylinder 118 (Fig. 13) the piston of which preferably pulls on the racks 110 an d 111, which returns the arms at a time and speed determined by the shape of the cam 106. I prefer to so shape the cam 106 that the block may be started on its travel to the 

